Triathlon #2: Jetton Practice makes perfect

To the request from a couple of my blog followers, I am actually going to write some race recaps through the season. Most of them will be multi-event in format but there will be a few running events mixed in.

exactly one week post tryCharleston Half Ironman, I spoke with Sheila Wakeman about her event, the "Jetton Triathlon" and said I was interested. After signing up, I knew I would be in for something eventful especially since my 6 weeks to 70.3 training really hurt me. My hamstring was killing me, my hip flexor was out of whack and my legs were basically "dead" as runners would say, no pop.

I thought it would be a great idea to use this race as a practice round for upcoming triathlons in the season, since it has been 4 years since I had really tried to make any attempt at triathlons. Last year's 2009 World Championship race was horrible and looking back, it should have been with my, excuse the language but half ass training plan. I needed some more time in the water and understanding how my body would feel after transitioning from event to event again. Upon signing up for the race, I noticed that my neighbor Lat Purser had signed up as well as Jim Rhodes. Lat is an elite triathlete in the area, who lays down some sicks times, especially in cycling. Jim just ripped off a 4:27 half ironman, followed by a 2nd overall finish in the sprint at white lake.

Competition was tough and I knew that on my best day considering the circumstances, I would only hope to be close to these guys. I was more confident going into the water, BUT it didn't pan out, i caught myself just kind of floating around so to speak. I remember thinking, "if i stay near Lat in the water that would be alright". So once he passed me around 250m in, I just stayed near him without any effort to increase the pace or even pull all the way through my stroke. 1st lesson in racing, my mind basically made a decision prior to the race and it worked just as I thought it may. I need to focus on KILLING the swim!

after leaving the water in just under 14 minutes before we hit the time mat, I grabbed my helmet and sunglasses, then it was off to the bike course. It was funny because 4 of us left transition together and everyone of us had a horrible mount on the bike. I had to laugh at the situation and just think about this being the total reason i was here, to practice. Once on the bike and moving, Lat flew past me and yelled something my way. I tried upping the pace but my hamstring just wasn't prepared to move that quickly. All in all I had a pretty damn good bike portion as I passed a ton of people and this was the 1st race that I had NEVER been passed on the bike.

After duking it out with some guys I caught up and passed about 1/2 way in I made my way to T2. This was not the smoothest dismount to transition but it was alright. I grabbed my shoes and visor then hit the path. I felt no speed in my legs at all, I was just running one steady motion. My breathing QUICKLY began to give me some serious problems. I was struggling to breath and my top just felt too conforming as usual so I stripped it off at the mile marker. My times were slow I knew and I wasn't moving very well because my legs were zapped totally from the 70.3 7 days prior, but i managed to pass several people. I didn't feel DECENT until the last mile when I seemed to pick it up a bit because my breathing was more regulated.



I learned a significant amount from this race and was eager to move forward. Gregory Billington won the race overall and I spoke with him after about his next races. Spain was the destination for the collegiate world championships in 2 weeks, no wonder he laid the wood on everyone. To give an idea of how difficult the 5k course was, he ran 17:40+ and I ran 19:02. Just a couple months back he ran 31:17 for a 10k at the end of a triathlon and well minus the tri part, I just ran 15:54 in the Boston 5k 3 weeks ago!

Looking back I feel like I am over racing but I am racing with purpose, to learn and to get in some great workouts. I believe I ended up 5th overall(1st in my Age division) which is great. I felt a little uneven with my performance afterwards but looking back I am very pleased. Over the past few weeks I have had a lot on my hands in the part of racing indeed!

Boston 5k - 04/19
Boston Marathon - 04/20
TryCharleston - 05/01
Jetton Tri - 05/08

That's a lot especially if anyone was to look back over the past 2 months of my training logs. More race recaps to come! Keep hope Alive

Recommendations for preparing to move to another country

Right now I am currently trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together that will make my trip to Australia as smooth as possible. I have been using search engines to assist my preparation with documents and all other sorts of things. I wanted to see if anyone out there had any tips relating to leaving the country for more than a couple weeks at a time?

Back in college I was fortunate to travel to Scotland for a couple weeks and it was very eventful, slash, a bit out of my comfort zone, BUT cool. This upcoming trip is one that will really make me venture away from my little bubble to open my wings so to speak and see the world and what it has to offer. After some deliberation about how to raise $ so that I can travel and also not leave behind loads of loans that I have, I am going to essentially do everything that I can to alleviate the stress of bills back home.

The biggest thing that I am going to take a step with is selling my vehicle, which i have been working hard to pay off so I could actually "own it". This makes sense as it would just sit in place for months and I would be paying upwards of $2500 in payments and insurance while away. Crossing my fingers that after I have the car completely buffed that it will sell for my pay off. Next in line will be my furniture upon the expiration of my lease in July. Even though I love my king size bedroom set, LCD TV, sectional and etc, it will have to go. The funny thing is that with the sale of all of this I will still have trouble paying for the cost of moving away.



It appears that the tenants at my investment condo are going to resign a new lease in July which would relieve a burden off of my shoulders, knowing that I can still make my mortgage payments even though I have been biting the bullet a bit. This is a lot of info that some people may find interesting in getting to understand me while others would say I speak too much about my personal life. I want people to know the real Christopher Lamperski, nothing to hide, just trying to live life, make people smile and make my small difference in the world where I can.

My question to close things up is: " Any tips for moving out of the country?"

Onward to Australia! update

Months ago I posted on my debate to take a chance in life and make a move for a bit to the other side of the world to see what it had to offer. The other side of the world being Perth, Australia where I would reconnect with a great friend of mine who has been a strong motivating factor in my life over the last 10 years. After posing the question about trying to possibly make this work, a friend of mine, Michael Kahn, sent me an email and said he really wanted to help me achieve my goal of making it to Australia.

In Short Mike, in his generosity said that he would dedicate his NYC marathon to raising $ for me to make the trip to Australia. He even created a website that allows people to donate $ online officially and I have already got a few donations actually. If you have a second take a look over it and shoot me an email if you have any questions.


https://www.active.com/donate/runningfromwithin


I have NEVER been one to ask for anything in life as I have been stubborn and always wanted to do everything basically on my own since I was young buying my 1st car in cash with grass cutting $$$! Recently a dear friend pointed out that I will pay back my friends in someway if I haven't already and its time to let me friends assist me while I am in need.



- As an update to the process, I have been connecting with a local personal training studio in Perth, with the possibility of coming in as a trainer. Today I was also notified of a position opening at the "Running Centre" in town for some extra hours needed for an experienced professional. this past weekend there was a big half ironman down under and the guys that I will be training with went sub 4:20 and one even in the 4:00's! Looking forward to moving things along..




Below is the content that is in Mike's active.com donation page

Send Chris To The Future
Australia Bound for this Bloke
My name is Mike. I am an avid runner from Charlotte, North Carolina. I've trained all over and call Charlotte, NC my home. Running is a passion. While having a physical component, running is also mental and emotional. It clears the mind and feeds the soul. Every runner develops an internal drive and commitment to better themselves and enrich their lives through running. It is the way I express myself and make my mark on the world.
I've found success in what I do and now I am trying to help others do the same. This is why I am running in the NYC Marathon and asking for your support in helping my friend (and Charlotte native), Christopher Lamperski (above right), raise enough money to travel to Perth, Australia. Most people in the local running community know Chris. He is a tireless but humble athlete, a hard worker, and a true friend.

When I asked Chris about his passion for running, he responded: "Over the past few years, I have heard “you have a lot of talent and if you really trained, you could do this and that." So in the past year I have really had a chance to train a bit more and had some minor success with limited training while juggling a full time job, a busy social schedule, working a part time position on the weekends and trying to be a big brother to my four much younger siblings.

Recently due to the economic crisis I was laid off from my full time position of 5 years, but it gave me a chance to really think about life and what it has to offer.

After my best friend Cody Angell (above left) visited Western Australia and had an overwhelming experience within the community, which led to his relocation, he challenged me to make more of myself with what Perth, Australia has to offer. Working with logistics and creating a financial picture of how this journey could be possible, it has been very difficult. Many signs point to “NO” but I think this is one of those “chances” in life that I need not pass up on even if it means rough times in the near future. I intend to make the most of my opportunity, training with elite level athletes as well as becoming more educated on physio-therapy, personal training, and the psychology of the sport through trying to set up an internship with a local clinic.

My intention is to dive into every aspect of understanding why and how the “Aussie’s” tend to be some of the most incredible athletes in the world, especially in the multi-sport arena. The goal is to come back in a couple of months with a more in depth knowledge of coaching/training. Firstly so that I can convert that to assist my own clients, and secondly for myself in hopes that I can take my racing to a new level that I thought could not be reached."

Unfortunately, Chris cannot afford the cost of traveling to Perth, Austrailia, to experience everything it has to offer a young, aspiring runner. He worked two jobs until being laid off from his main employer as a result of the economy. He is able to support himself from day to day but is unable to come up with the approximate $2,700 travel expense to Perth and back. I am asking for your support in helping to send Chris to Perth to experience everything Perth has to offer. I know money is tight right now and everyone is struggling. Please consider making a donation, no matter how small, so that Chris can take this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that will truly help him become a better runner and person. Help him fulfill his dream of taking his life to the next level.

Thanks for your support!